Bowling ball retarder



Aug. 28, 1951 R. I. ANDERSOILJ 2,566,109

BOWLING BALL RETARDER Filed Aug. :51, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 501767 2 (Fade/"50% Aug. 28, 1951 IR. l. ANDERSON 2,566,109

v BOWLING BALL RETARDER I Filed Aug. 31, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Aug. 28, 1951 R. l. ANDERSON BOWLING BALL RETARDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 51, 1946 INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 28, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLIN G BALL RETARDER Robert I. Anderson, Grand Haven, Mich., assignor to The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1946, Serial No. 694,226

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a safety ball stop for bowling alleys, and is arranged in the form of a rockable cradle having means such that when the ball enters the cradle the ball will be brought to a stop, or nearly so, and the cradle will swing to a position to gently release the ball into the storage section of the ball return rack, the cradle then being automatically returned into position to receive another ball.

In bowling ball retarders, as known prior to the present invention, injury has often occurred to bowlers by reason of a ball following a preceding ball, and the second ball striking the first ball with an impact to drive the first ball through the retarder mechanism. Also during bowling a bowler will frequently move the balls in the storage section when picking up or preparing to pick up the ball he is using. When this occurs some of the balls are rolled toward the retarding or stopping mechanism. The cradle safety ball stop in the present invention is so constructed that even though a. ball in the storage section may be in contact with the cradle at the same time that a ball enters the cradle, no impact is imparted to said ball in the storage section until the ball in the cradle is released from the mechanism and the slope of the return track causes them to roll back in the storage section.

In the present invention it is also impossible for a following ball to enter the cradle when a preceding ball is in the cradle. The cradle safety ball stop of the present invention is so constructed as to prevent injury to the bowler and at the same time possesses maximum efficiency in the retarding of the ball and passing of the same through the cradle.

Among the objects of my invention are: to provide a novel and improved safety ball stop, to provide a safety ball stop in the form of a cradle preventing a strong impact to a ball or balls in the storage section; to provide a cradle safety ball stop which, when the ball is in the cradle, will prevent a following ball from striking the ball within the cradle; to provide a safety ball stop having improved construction to prevent injury to the bowler. and at the same time one that will be efiicient, reliable and positive in operation; to provide .a cradle safety ball stop having. means to receive the impact of the ball and perrnit rotation of the ball within the cradle without danger of the ball climbing up over the impact end of the cradle; to provide a novel cradle cradle to initial position after the ball has passed therethrough; and to provide a cradle of the type referred to above, that is wide enough to retard the progress of a regular size bowling ball, but will permit a small diameter ball, such as a duck ball or the like, to freely pass right on through the cradle.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ball retarding end of .a ball return rack in a bowling alley, and having a safety ball stop embodying my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a safety ball stop embodying my invention, showing the ball stop frame in longitudinal vertical section, with the cradle in ball releasing position shown in solid lines, and in ball receiving position shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but showing the cradle in ball receiving position.

' Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

' Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 8.

While my invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have shown therein for illustrative purposes only, a preferred embodiment and wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the form shown in the drawings, my invention comprises a stop frame I of generally triangular shape with the front edge vertical and the rear edge inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

, This frame comprises side plates 2 and 3, each of and controlling cylinder for receiving the initial impact of the ball, permitting the ball to then move into the storage section, and return the which at its upper end is formed with laterally extending right-angled flanges 4 secured by bolts, screws, rivets, or the like 5 to the under surface of .the side spaced-apart members 6 and l of the -A short distance in front of the place where my safety ball stop, is applied, the ball return rack is formed with the usual abrupt upwardly inclined portion 9, to absorb part of the momentum of the ball along the ball return rack. As soon as the ball has moved upwardly to the top of the incline 9 it will have sufilcient momentum left to roll into the safety ball stop of the present invention and be retarded therein and pass therethrough to the storage section It wher a number of the balls may be stored until picked up for use by the bowlers.

Each oi the side plates 2 and 3 of the ball stop frame I, at its upper edge, extends upwardly at to receive the cross pin [3 around which cross pin is positioned a pair of flanged sleeves ii and it upon which is rotatably mounted the hub l 6 of the cradle ii. The pin 13 passes through the apertured upstanding projections iii of the side plates and is held in such position, with the cradle rotatably mounted thereon, by the screws l8 and ii which. i de i e may have washer p sitioned between the ner 'f lGQ Q t r I BQQS a d th er faces o the side, walls 2 nd 3. It s thus seen that the cradle ll is swingably mounted on pin is in the upper portion of the space between the side walls sand 3. Cradle ll extends a somewhat greater distance rearwardly of pin it than it does forwardly thereof. This rearwardly extending end as viewed in Fig. i, when the cradle is in its initial ball receiving position; is formed with upstanding end portions 29 of the side plates 2! and 22 on which, at the rear upper extremities, is rotatably iou naled. a ro l r 3. hi h s ferably of rubber to resiliently receive the impact of the ball entering the cradle.

This roller 23 serves as to stop to receive the impact of the ball thereagainst. At the moment of impact the ball is revolving due, to its rolling motion, and roller 23;. being free to rotate about its shaft 24, allqws'the ba l, to revolve without tending to climb up over roller 23 and, out. Of the cradle. If desired, a non-revolving stop may be provided in lieu of roller 23, in which case the surface of such stop would be of a material offering less friction so. as to allow the surface of the ball to slide or slip with relation thereto. 7 This will be visualized in Fig. 4 by assuming that the roller 23 is non-rotatable and of such slipping material.

Cradle i? extends forwardly from its fulcrum pin 3 to provide the. end portion. 25, between the side plates of which is mounted the pin 26, upon which is mounted the roller 21 preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material.

Fixed by welding or otherwise in the upper portion of the space'between the side plates 2 and ii of stop frame I, along the front edges thereof, is a channel member 23 to, the upper end of which is fixed by spot welding or otherwise, a forwardly inclined metal plate or strip 29 so positioned as to form a stop for the forward roller 27 when the cradle is in its ball-receiving position as. shown in Fig. 4i ll this. time the roller2l is below the portion traversed by the lowest surface of the ball to permit the ball to enter the cradle and strike the roller 23 at the rear upper end of the cradle. As will be understood, the roller 23 at this time is standing a substantial distance above the ball return rack, and in fact is somewhat above the horizontal plane passing through the center of the ball when contacting roller 23.

Fixed to the rear curved end wall 3 of the cradle is a leather pad 3l to receive the slight impact from a ball in the storage section, should the s m 0 1 forwardly unde force re t d by being necessary that the hydraulic cylinder 33 ro the bowlers fingers when picking up another ball from said section. As will be noted in Fig. 4, this pad 3i, which may be of leather or any other suitable cushioning material is positioned a substantial distance above the ball return rack when the cradle is in ball receiving position.

The side plates 2 and 3 of the stop frame I are at their inclined rear edges further secured and braced together by a chennel member 32, spot welded or otherwise fixed thereto. The structural mounting of the roller 27 between the sides of the forwardly projecting ends of the cradle will be more or less similar to the mounting of the cradle upon the stationary stop frame and need notbe described in detail, except to state that any suitable supportin means that will permit rota= tion of the roller may be used as will be under stood in Fig. l.

The means for absorbing the shock of the ball when it strikes the rear roller :23 and then slowly lowerin the r r of the cradle to permit the hall to roll ii the storage section and to thereafter return the cradle to its initial position, will now be described. This means comprises generally a hydraulic cylinder 33' which has fixed in its lower end a fulcrum block 34, fulcrurnmed upon the pin which pin in turn is mounted at its ends in the lower forward corners of the side alls 2 and 3 of the stop frame l. Any suitable mounting may he employed" as desired, it only tate a small amount upon pin'3 5.

Siidably mounted within cylinder 33 is a piston having a piston rod 3? which at its upper end is pivotally connected between side plates 2! and 22 of the cradle as shown in Fig. 4 This pivotal connection of the upper end of piston rod 31 with the cradle is shown in detail in Fig. 6 in Which it will be seen that the uppertubular end of this connecting rod (which is closed by the threaded rod; P) is passed through a central dia metrical opening in the sleeve 38, and fixed therein by welding or other suitable securing means as indicated at 39. Extending inwardly from each end of the sleeve 38 is a flanged bushing 5%! which at the inner end extends substantially to the outer surface of the piston rod 3?,

Extending into each of the bushings ii} is a pin ii threaded at l? in complemental threads 43 formed in the hub portions ad of plates 2! and 22-. From this construction it is seen that the upper end of piston rod 3? has a pivotal movement with, relation to the cradle ll, so. that the piston rod and piston may move inwardly and outwardly with relation to the cylinder 33 as the cylinder swings about its fulcrum pin 35.

Piston rod 3? is slidably mounted through a central opening in the disk 55. secured in the cylinder 33 by screws or the like, 45. Disk 45 fact constitutes a head for the upper end of the cylinder. ljhe lower end of piston rod 31 is in any desired manner within a hollow hub t? fixed to the piston The lower face or piston 36 is formed with a depression 43. having com munication with the hollow interior of the piston rod.

The piston rod and piston hub, 41 are, each formed on diametrically opposite sides with open ings forming passageways and 5!. Seated in a seat in the upper end of the depression 48' is a ball valve 52 which is held from falling out of the depression 28 by a spider 53 extending across the lower end of this depression. The rod P is threaded at its upper end T to enable 1on end 54 to hold ball 52 a selective small distance away from its port, so that when the cradle is rocked rearwardly by the impact of a bowling ball against roller 23 the oil or other fiuid in cylinder 33 will slowly pass through the space between the ball and its seat to control such rearward swinging of the cradle to the desired degree. This degree will be controlled by longitudinal adjustment of rod P which construction in effect provides an adjustable hydraulic snub or retarding means.

During the rearward swinging of the cradle, it will be understood that the ball valve 52 is pressed against the end 54 of rod P to prevent more than the desired amount of liquid from passing upwardly through passageway 49. Mounted below the piston 36, and at its ends engaging the bottom face of the piston and the upper face of the bottom piston closing block 34 is a coil compression spring 55, which, during the downward movement of the piston while the cradle is swinging rearwardly, is compressed.

As soon as the cradle has swung rearwardly to such extent as to release the bowling ball therefrom as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, and after the ball has rolled out of the rear end of the cradle into the storage section, the compression of spring 55 urges the piston 36 upwardly. Upward movement of the piston 36 causes the oil above the piston to force the ball valve 52 downwardly and thereby fully releases ball valve 52 from its seat to permit oil or other liquid to more rapidly pass from above the piston through passageways 49, 59 and 5| to the space below the piston. This reverse swinging movement of the cradle will continue until the roller 21 strikes the stop plate 29, after which the cradle will be held in this position by spring 55 until another ball enters the cradle and strikes the roller 23.

It is believed the operation of this cradle safety ball stop will be understood from the above description. When the ball, rolling rearwardly along the ball return rack, enters the cradle, it will pass over roller 21 to clear the same and then strike the impact roller 23. The impact of the ball against roller 23 will be, to a large extent, absorbed by the hydraulic cylinder 33 and piston 36 therein, with a slight additional impetus being exerted against the cradle to complete its rearward swinging movement until the roller 23 is below the lowest surface of the ball in the rear trackway as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. The ball will then roll rearwardly into the storage section.

Should a ball follow too closely after the firstmentioned ball, it will contact the roller 21 and be prevented from striking the ball within the cradle, which would otherwise probably cause injury to the bowlers fingers while handling balls in the storage section. This structure, just described, prevents such injury. When the cradle is in its ball-receiving position, as shown in Fig. 4, any ball in the storage section that may be pushed rearwardly by the bowler while hunting his own particular ball, would contact the cushion 3| on the rear face of the cradle and be there cushioned and prevented from entering the cradle and causing complications and possible injury by such entry.

The operation of this device may be better understood in Fig. 2 in which the ball I shown in dotted lines, has entered the cradle, which cradle at this time is in its ball-receiving position shown in dotted lines at H. The cradle is then rotated rearwardly (in a clockwise direction'as viewed in Fig. 2) until the impact roller 23 is below the ball return trackway, at which time the cradle and ball will be in the position shown in the solid lines in Fig. 2, with the ball leaving the cradle to pass into the storage section. At this same time the front roller 21 will be elevated sufficiently high to prevent a second ball ll" following too closely after the first ball from entering the cradle until the cradle is again restored to its initial position as shown in Fig. 4, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. With the cradle in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, the second ball is stopped by the roller 21.

Also in Fig. 2 is shown in dotted lines how a ball I I1) may be rolled rearwardly by the bowler while hunting his ball in the storage section, until it strikes the cushion 3| where it will be held and prevented from interfering with the further operation of the cradle. The various swinging positions of the cylinder 33 during the swinging operation of the cradle are shown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 2, the piston rod being forced into the cylinder 33 when the cradle is in its ball-releasing position, and extending outwardly a distance from said cylinder when the cradle is in its ball-receiving position.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 I have provided a safety ball stop similar to that described above, except that the side walls 2| and 22' of the modified form, even though fixed to operate together, are laterally spaced apart a greater distance than in the preferred form, and the end wall 39 of the preferred form has been omitted.

In the modified form the cradle functions in the same general manner as that described above for the preferred form when a regular size bowling ball is used. However the distance between the side Walls 2| and 22 and between the rollers 23 and 23" (one on each side wall), while being small enough to retard a regular size howling ball in the manner described above, is large enough that a ball of small diameter, such as a duck ball or the like, will pass right on through the ball stop when in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 8. This is because a duck ball does not have finger holes and hence can be more easily picked up from the storage section by the player with less danger of injury to his fingers when a following ball comes right on through the ball stop. With duck balls the player does not have to move the balls backwardly hunting for his ball with his particular finger holes, hence he can grasp it on the sides without injury. In Figs. 8 and 9 the side walls each have a rear, outwardly extending flange a and b each having on its outer or rear face a cushion 3| similar in nature and operation to the cushion 3| of the preferred form.

I claim:

1. A safety ball stop for bowling balls, comprising, a ball return track, a stop frame fixed to said return track, a cradle swingably mounted on said frame and having when in ball receiving position a rearwardly and upwardly extending portion having a roller rotatably mounted. in its upper end,- said cradle when in ball receiving position having a forwardly extending portion with a roller rotatably mounted therein and posttioned below the trackway of the return track, means operatively connected to the cradle for absorbing a large portion of the momentum of the ball when it enters the cradle and strikes the first mentioned roller, said cradle being reluctantly swingable in one direction to ball releasing posi- 7 tion by the remaining momentum of the ball to slowly release said ball; and means for swingingthe cradle in the opposite direction for returning the cradle to ball receivingposition when the ball has passed therethrough.

2-. A safety ball stop as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the stop frame is provided with stop means against which the forward roller bears under the continued urging of said returning means when the cradle has been returned to ball receiving position.

3. A safety ball stop as claimed inolaim' l in which when the cradle is in ball receiving nosi tion the axis of rotation, of the rear roller is above the horizontal plane passing through the center of the ballso that a ball striking said roller will be forced firmly against said track;

a. A safety ball stop for bowling balls, comprising, a ball return track, a cradle pivotally mounted with relation to the return track and having a rearwardly extending. portion and a forwardly extending portion, means resisting.

pivotal movement of the cradlewhen it is in ball,

receiving position. and a roller on the rearwardly extending portion, a roller on the forwardly extending portionsaid rear roller being asubstantial distance above the return, track and above the center of a ball entering said cradle when the cradle is in ball. receiving position, andv the ward roller at that time being below the retain track.

5. A safety ball, stopas claimed in; claim in which when the cradle is in call receiving posi tion the axis of rotation of the rear roller is at a higher level than the horizontal plane passing through the center of the ballv when the ball.

contacts the rear roller so that a ball striking.

said roller will be forced firmly. ainst said track.

6. A safety ball stop as claimed in claim 4, having a stop frame to which the cradle is, pivotally mounted, said frame having a stop mem ber against which the front roller contacts when the cradle is in ball receiving position to hold.

the cradle proper ball receiving position, a hydraulic cylinder pivotedto said frame, a piston in said cylinder, said piston having a piston rod pivoted to said cradle rearwardly of the axis of the cradle pivot.

7. A safety ball stop for bowling balls, com.- prising a ball return trackway, a, stop frame fixed with relation to said trackway,. a cradle. swingably mounted on said frame and having a body portion extending rearwardly of the cradle fui of the momentum of a ballentering the cradle and permitting the ball to be gently released through the cradle as the cradle swings and means for automatically rotating the cradlein the opposite direction to return the cradle toball-receiving position when the: ball-has been released therefrom.

9. A safety ball stop for bowling balls, comprising, a ball return track-way; astop frame fixedwith relation to said trackway, said frame having laterally spaced apart side wallplates, 2; stop plate fixed in the upper forward portion of the frame between said plates, a cradle formed of laterally spaced apart side plates which are pivoted at an intermediate portion to said frame sidewall plates, the front of the cradle contacting said stop platewhen the cradle is in ballreceiving position, the rear end of the cradle at this'time extending upwardly and having an 1111-- pact member mounted thereonwitlr the center of the impact member at a, higher level than the center of a ball in the cradle, means pivoted to the frame and to the cradle behind its pivot axis for absorbing momentum of a ball striking;- said impact member to gently release the ball from the cradle, and means for swinging" the cradle to ball receiving position after a ball has been released therefrom.

10. A safetyba-ll stop as claimed in claim 9; in which said impact member is a resilient roller.

11. A safety-ball stop asv claimed claim 9; i'n which said impact member is a resilient roller said cradle having a transverse rear end-,wall; and a: cushion member on the rear face of the rear end, wall and located above the trackway' when the cradle is in ball receiving osition.

12. A safety ball stop as claimed in claim 4 wherein said. rearwardly extending portion or the cradle is provided with a cushion member on the rear surface thereof, said: cushion memher being located above said: track when the cradle is in ball-receiving position.

13'. safety ball stop for bowling balls com prising a frame member, a cradle pivotally' mounted on said frame member and having a. pair of laterally spaced side plates fixedlto swing; as a unit, said cradle being providedwithmeans: for receiving and, absorbing thev major portion of the impact of. a regular bowling ball when the cradle is in ball receiving position said plates, being spaced apart at the rea i endsa dis:- tance sufficient to. permit a. small diameter ballsuch as a duck ball and the like to pass therethrough without contacting the cradle when the, cradle is in ball-receiving position and spaced apart at the front ends a distance such. that said small diameter ball will contact the cradle when a regular, ball is in the cradle.

14. A, safety ball. stop for bowling balls-, comprising, a frame member, a cradle pivotailymounted on. said frame member, said cradle hav ing a pair of laterally spaced plates" the upper rear edges of. which are formed on the frontsurfaces thereof with a. curvature approximately corresponding with the curvature; of a bowling ball, an impact roller rotatablymounted" in the upper rear portion of the cradle between saidplates, a roller rotatably mounted in the-front end of the cradlebetween said plates; and-means for-resisting the rearward swinging ofithe cradle when a ball enters the cradlet'c slowly release'a" ball. from the cradle, and means to; returnthe cradle to ball receiving position when a ballhas been released therefrom.

15. A ball stopior bowling balls comprising a cradle rotatablymounted adjacent a ball'- return track having, when in ball' receiving position; a-

position where said rear portion is beneath the track to release the ball and the front portion is above the track to intercept a following ball, and means for rotating said cradle in the opposite direction to return said cradle to its initial position on passage of said first ball beyond the cradle.

16. A ball stop as claimed in claim 15 in which said rear portion is provided with a roller adapted to be contacted by said first ball and located 10 above the center of a ball entering said cradle,

and said front portion is provided with a roller adapted to be contacted by said following ball.

17. A ball stop as claimed in claim 15 in which there is provided a stop member against which 15 said forward portion is held by said return. means when the cradle is in ball-receiving position.

ROBERT I. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 655,034 Verstraete July 31, 1900 1,979,466 Hedenskoog Nov. 6, 1934 2,236,560 Bancroft Apr. 1, 1941 2,292,753 Gerald Aug. 11, 1942 2,297,330 Schoepfer Sept. 29, 1942 

